Seems that Canada and Hong Kong have agreed to make it easier for Canadian/Hong Kong airlines to provide service between Hong Kong and Canada. The new agreement will allow for more code share agreements with other airlines, and improved service between the two countries over all...

The countries Asian and Business centers are YYZ and YVR and as such a YUL market for HKG would be very very small...But this new agreement would allow for CX to put its code on an AC or other flight between YZ and UL. You will probably see the AC code on Singapore,ANA, and Asian flights out of HKG.

"Clive Beddoe says he favours competition, but his actions do not support that idea." Robert Milton - CEO Air Canada

Calgary has the third largest Chinese population in Canada (not even THAT big) and I seriously doubt a YYC-HKG flight would work under any citcumstances. The HK market is pretty slow right now. Even AC has cut capacity on the YVR-YYC route.

2001 census shows something like 12% of visible minorities in MTL are of Asian decent..... Its not only Asian that travel to HKG, tourists, business etc... MTL asian population is still bigger than Thunder Bay

Still doesnt make it more viable to have a flight originate in YUL if you can now add your code to a YUL-YYZ or YUL-YVR flight...I think, Mark you are now really going out there with your YUL flight predictions... YYC can sustain asian flights through the summer because of tourism, but I still doubt that it is viable to operate a direct YYC flight year round when you can just as easily funnel those pax through one of the gateways.

"Clive Beddoe says he favours competition, but his actions do not support that idea." Robert Milton - CEO Air Canada

Do you know for sure that they were KE connections...and it is winter they could have been part of a ski tour group...and if that is the case then its hardly the type of traffic that could make a route profitable...unless they want to run a CRJ between Seoul and Montreal

"Clive Beddoe says he favours competition, but his actions do not support that idea." Robert Milton - CEO Air Canada

2001 census shows something like 12% of visible minorities in MTL are of Asian decent

Perhaps. But they are living in a city with below-average per capita income. Which means that YUL asians have less disposable income for travel to Asia than YVR, YYC or YYZ Asians.

Moreover, did you read the predictions last week for economic growth for Canadian cities by the Conference Board of Canada thru to 2007? YUL will have lower economic growth than YYZ, YVR, YYC, YEG and YOW. Indeed, the lowest in Canada among the major cities. Not good for traffic growth at YUL.

Mark you are now really going out there with your YUL flight predictions... YYC can sustain asian flights through the summer because of tourism

I agree with the former statement! CP used to have nonstop flights briefly from YYC and YEG (at different times) to NRT.

Yep, without the good old YUL feed.. where would you guys be How about those 60 people on my flight from KE

The only sizeable Korean communities in Canada are in YVR and YYZ. The YUL feed to YYZ is probably minimal. Without it, KE would still likely fly to YYZ. Perhaps a gauge downgrade from the 744 to 772.

I dumped at the gybe mark in strong winds when I looked up at a Porter Q400 on finals. Can't stop spotting.

2001 census shows something like 12% of visible minorities in MTL are of Asian decent

12% of the VISIBLE MINORITY POPULATION. That's the key. Most people who are visible minorities in Montreal are either Black or Arab. Montreal has about 50,000 Chinese (about the same as Calgary, maybe a little less). I doubt it's enough to warrant a flight to Hong Kong or elsewhere in Asia. Boston has a larger Chinese population than Montreal and they don't have any flights there.

"Moreover, did you read the predictions last week for economic growth for Canadian cities by the Conference Board of Canada thru to 2007? YUL will have lower economic growth than YYZ, YVR, YYC, YEG and YOW. Indeed, the lowest in Canada among the major cities. Not good for traffic growth at YUL."

-Hey Neil. Funny thing eh? The funny thing is that these guys predicted the same for Montreal in a period of 1998-2002. And guess who came out on top with a 4.3% growth???? What a minute -> Montreal?? I love how you can ommit that.. or the fact that we've produced more jobs than you, or the fact that we have the cheapest cost of living, or everything that you choose irrelevant to support your bias view of things.... How easy people can predict things that NEVER come true. And you know what, it makes me even happier to know that I live in one of the most beautiful cities in North America (something that doesnt apply to Toronto), and making money off Torontonians and Albertans... Sweet deal if you ask me! But it's ok, I will send my Asian buddies via Toronto and Vancouver just for you!

And to your advantage Neil, its now 3 years in a row that Montreal has topped off Toronto ..... all talk no BITE coming down the 401 as usual, GO LAUGHS GO!

-Raj, your right, I just re-read the census. We still have a lot of Asians... they are everywhere So we have more Arabs than Toronto... I hear Khalifa is looking to start Montreal service this summer.... I wonder where these guys get their money.

"The only sizeable Korean communities in Canada are in YVR and YYZ. The YUL feed to YYZ is probably minimal. Without it, KE would still likely fly to YYZ. Perhaps a gauge downgrade from the 744 to 772. "

-If Air Canada starts YYZ-ICN, I wonder if KE will keep their service. It was nice to be in the car with Tony and watching the B744 come over... nice looking plane! HOpe they dont overshoot the runway as per their usual tendencies.

I do not think there's room for both of them... not yet anyways. So how about those 345's Anyone exited? I am. For the simple reason that for every one of these babies in service, they need 80 Cabin crew. That means possible return for gas guy over here.

Despite the fumes I am not holding my breath.

25 Rai
: I recall there being a KE/AC codeshare because I was trying to book a flight to Seoul when I was living in Canada and the travel agent told me that I'

26 FLYYUL
: Well like we've discussed earlier, YYZ-ICN is another of AC's pipe dreams .. they barely fill YYZ-NRT... oh no Im gonna get heat for this Mark

27 Yyz717
: I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you Greg! Maybe AC feels it can grab some of the traffic from KE. I understood that a high proportion of the KE tra

28 Yyz717
: YYZ-ICN is another of AC's pipe dreams .. they barely fill YYZ-NRT... YYZ-NRT is a reality. It happens every day. And back. YUL-NRT is a pipedream.

29 GuyBetsy1
: The discussion is about the Canada/HK bilateral agreement. How did ICn and NRT get pulled into this? As for codeshares? The way is there for it to hap